Parker responds to criticism over Big Sur wedding

This space took a pretty big swing at Interent entrepreneur Sean Parker over his Big Sur wedding this weekend, for which he ended up handing over $2.5 million to the Coastal Commission in an agreement reached over “unpermitted development” at the site in question.

The agency discovered a stone bridge, rock walls, artificial pond and other construction on a privately-owned but public campground. The land in question is regulated under the Coastal Act.

Parker wrote a lengthy email to Atlantic writer Alexis Madrigal disputing the way the issue has been characterized in the press. Among other things, he said he enlisted the Save the Redwoods League to help him identity an appropriate site and minimize impacts on it. He also said he asked about permits and was told that none were required.

The fact remains that the proper permits were not secured for the project — for whatever reason — but the letter does at least suggest Parker took some care to avoid environmental damage to the sensitive site.